State takes steps to move residents, revoke license of Graywood Residential Alternatives group home after a disabled man died in beating

January 31, 2011|By Lolly Bowean, Tribune reporter

The state is taking steps to relocate a group home's residents and revoke its license after a Joliet man was allegedly beaten by its employees, officials said Monday.

The Illinois Department of Human Services has begun the process of terminating the contract of the Charleston-based group home, Graywood Residential Alternatives, officials said.

The decision to end the contract and begin taking steps to revoke its license came after two employees at the group home were arrested in the beating death of Paul McCann.

McCann, 42, grew up in Joliet and was mentally and developmentally disabled. He died four days after he was allegedly attacked by two workers at Graywood's group home who accused him of stealing food, officials said.

McCann's death was the second in less than three years at the facility, where allegations of physical abuse have been lodged against employees, officials said.

"The health and safety of people served by IDHS are our top priority," officials with the Department of Human Services said in a statement. "The department approaches issues of abuse with the utmost seriousness and is working to ensure the well-being of individuals living at Graywood Residential Alternatives in Charleston."

Graywood serves 52 adults at their group home and offers services for 16 children, said a spokeswoman for IDHS. The state is working with the families and guardians of those residents to make sure they can transition into other facilities in 60 days.

Graywood did not return calls Monday.

According to Charleston police, Keyun D. Newble, 25, and Marquis A. Harmon, 22, have been charged with first-degree murder in the beating and kicking of McCann. Newble is a resident of East St. Louis, and Harmon is an Eastern Illinois University student from Danville, Ill.

The death of McCann shocked and devastated his relatives, who live in the south suburbs.

McCann lived at Graywood for about four years, said his sister, Kathy Slovick. He moved to the group home, which was three hours away from his family, because it best served his needs, Slovick said. Over time, he chose to stay there because he made friends and enjoyed the scenery.